Father James McDyer, a strong Donegal priest, was the driving force behind the Folk Village Museum. It was opened in 1967 with three cottages that were built and furnished in just three months thanks to the help of the local community.
The parish of Glencolmcille had been experiencing a long-term cycle of unemployment and emigration when Father McDyer arrived in 1951. Over the next three decades, Father McDyer attempted to break the cycle by advocating for amenities, organising community initiatives, and promoting the growth of local companies, many of which are still successful today, such as the Folk Village.
Over the years, new houses and displays have been built, and the Folk Village Museum remains a community concern. People in the community frequently offer their time, expertise, artefacts, memories, and images. The Folk Village, snuggled into a rocky hillside on a human scale, welcomes guests with a warm Donegal welcome and an intimate experience of a bygone era.
For visitors, the Folk Village Museum provides an excellent guided tour. The tour will allow you to experience life in the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. Their thatched cottages are accurate copies of those from that time period and are furnished as such. Examine how their forefathers and mothers lived and cooked, the beds they slept in, the equipment they used, and the lighting and heating systems they employed. This is an excellent opportunity for those of you who can trace your ancestors to Ireland to witness rural life firsthand.
